Child Safe Standards

This week we will look at:

Standard 7

Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused

In complying with Child Safe Standard 7 our school ensures that:

7.1    The school has an accessible, child-focused complaint handling policy which clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of leadership, staff and volunteers, approaches to dealing with different types of complaints, breaches of relevant policies or the Code of Conduct and obligations to act and report.

7.2    Effective complaint handling processes are understood by children and young people, families, staff and volunteers, and are culturally safe.

7.3    Complaints are taken seriously and responded to promptly and thoroughly.

7.4    The school has policies and procedures in place that address reporting of complaints and concerns to relevant authorities, whether or not the law requires reporting, and co-operates with law enforcement.

7.5    Reporting, privacy and employment law obligations are met.

So what does this actually look like in a school?

Actions

• The school makes information about how to make a complaint available and accessible to everyone involved with the school. (7.2, 7.4)
• The school provides staff and volunteers with support and information on what and how to report, including to authorities outside the organisation. (7.1, 7.3, 7.4)
• Complaints are taken seriously, meaning the school consistently:
  • identifies and manages any risks to children
  • responds to complaints promptly and thoroughly
  • prioritises the safety of children and also meets privacy and employment law obligations
  • supports everyone involved in the complaints process
  • reports complaints of alleged abuse or harm of children and concerns about child safety to the authorities and cooperates with law enforcement. (7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 and links to Standard 9)
• Records are kept of complaints made to the school, including concerns raised about the safety of children and disclosures about alleged abuse or harm of children, and actions taken to respond. (7.3 and links to 2.6)
• Children, families and communities are consulted when designing and reviewing complaint handling policies and procedures. (7.2 and links to 4.3)
• The school reviews complaint handling policies and procedures at regular intervals. (7.1 and links to 10.1)